Pacific Stars And Stripes
September 26, 1992
Opera star Placido Domingo, actress singer Bette Midler and “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin sang “Happy Anniversary” to Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani, who’s celebrating his 30th year in business.
The gala bash in New York doubled as an awards ceremony.
Valentino used the occasion to present his first annual Rose of Life awards to honor humanitarian contributions.
Domingo, Midler and Franklin were among the recipients of the award, a gold rose.
Actress-model Brooke Shields acceptedfor Elizabeth Taylor, who couldn’t make it.
Actor Tim Robbins accepted the award on behalf of Magic Johnson. Audrey Hepburn was another absentee; she’s in Somalia to help the starving people.
But movie star Sophia Loren came in person to claim hers. After accepting her gold rose from Valentino, she told the audience, “I wish I could talk to him just in Italian. I hope I really deserve what he gave me.”
